Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-01-06
rHE DnArn on Boorn.


:" &a8tMsh ~ 3N1pMtC ACCOUNT hH |
'Katy of Oatootin ,,
In his latest book George Alfred Town.
send has thus described the death Of Lin.
coins murderer
At the suggestion OF John Brown, his
wandering powers took ooherenoe and ex.
ample, aud be remembered the manner tni
which old Brown had mat his fate aud
Booth tried to be bis pupil.
Captain" called Booth, assuming
hollow, theatrical voice, give me living |
chance; withdraw your men 100 PAGES nom
the barn, and I'll come out and hight you"
This had been John Browns request,
when entrepped In his engine houss. AID |
Booth asplred TO die like Brown,
He repeated the request, and thought II |
quite unmereiful that he WIS not accorded 1
a little stage space to die effectively in.
"We'll waste no moro inns" the evtl /
officer, without, spoke In 4 tone If disgust. /
The kRtydld or cricket never ceased 10 |
call its resoundtng beads, and Pray, pray, |
pray"
Booth searched the heavens and the |
world for some intercessor, ind fetei cd |
from weakness his mothers name. By TINT |
saint lie ask Tor iifty yards and for little |
more time.
Everything was refused.
NOW, then, my brave boys" he de- |
claimed in the tones OF the stage again, |
prepare stretehar for mel"
'.Hiretehers" were the canvas biers to
carry ont of battle wounded men. Booth
assuming to the end--would appear to be u
veteran entitled TO the honors OF war.
He raised his carbine, feebly resolving to
kill some one. or to are 1t OF at least, and
as ne stepped, on foot and crut0h, toward
tho centre Of the barn, to be farthest from
mems aiming, q friction-match was
scratched behind bin as II his broken bones
had rasped each other, and sent o cold chill
up his spine.
He turned and saw the barn on fret
A lighted whisp of straw. twisted by some
one without, had fallen into loose hay, and
some brush, piled against the outside Of tho
barn, was also ailre. The warm flame for q
sluge instant carried the Odor and crackle
OF his Tather's log cabin to his heart, and
he shouted, rs his ctutch fell from under
his arm and left him helpless:
Captain, do 1t quick Now shoot me
through the heart !"
The cricket ceased TO sing, though every
thing beside came forth In the bright light
till what had been the throne OF gloom
stood revealed in the blessed implements
aud yield of husbandry, ard there were
| wasps flying around their nests ia the roof,
| scenting flame, and In the Hitter Of the floor
ran rats In single llle, all slyly, as from q
| sinking ship, aud one squealed as II crossed
his shadow like an old witch In an incanta-
| tlou scene.
The pillow and barrow teeth took a ruddy
| RiGHulj SONIC sWAiltiWA IN INC IlWDeIs new
| round and ruuud. blinded by the fire. and
| the pegs for tobacco and the burning
tobacco leaves gr5w TO be ferns and seallops
| OF gold as they hung, like gllded scenes In
speetacles, around the desperate man.
lie had seen fires upon the stage and
helped to stamp them out, aud he limped
toward the greater fame near corner, but
| suddenly great tongue of Are licked him
and slnged him as II Cerberus at helrs
| door had foEdled on him with furnace
! tunRue
Fear seized him. and he ran toward the
door on mistittiag bonos--tlle door held
| open ne by some invisible AnHei--and, as no
ran, the pondeTons henms md trees In the
structure seemed 10 fall upon his skull and
| smash Il like an egg
Booth next fcl. water In his face, and two
| men were holding him up and searching his
body AMI putting their fingers In his brain.
Its haic," sutd ono, night where he
shot tina President, bshind the ear, and on
| the sanie side, and bereits come through"
| In gheging torments he discsrned before
| him Two men In Confederate dress, I'LL
shown by the light Of the burning barn,
which was reflected In the homestead
| porch he lay upon.
| ibid +-he--betray SIGHED Booth,
pointing to one Of these, the officer who had
| brought him TO tho house.
| He did not hear the answer, but he made
| it himself
"Tell-mother- thought II did--best
rlghtsa eountry-till--I died. XIII mel
| Kill mel
Hcrold, tied to the tree in the little fat
lawn, saw them turn Booth, TO make him
| comfortable, and heard him gasp and
gruan, and Hsrold shed the only tears.
Booth could not swallow, and his words
| We're measured like dew In the honey
| suckle's cup that dropped above his eyes
! and opened to the fire.
| Ha ANU than In hfa farnINSfl hold nm
the arsenal OF things he bad carried so long
] "a great, fierce knife, with rust Of blood
| upon II; two pistols with revolving cylin-
ders thick as his riven ankle, aud loaded In
| every chamber; a aven-shotted carbine;
| eandle-spotted pocket compass; his diary
full Of protestations and despair, and hold
ing Light Prisons Nance his pipe and
searf-pin and the lkenesses Vt ladies', and n
little Catholic medal. He sighed:
"Tonguel"
The detective opened his mouth and said
Booth, no blood is on your tongue"
He started at his name, which seemed
century since 1t had been mentioned, and
gasped:
"HandsiH
The officer raised his hand ard molstened
It with piece of Ice, and lifted II all limp
to Booths face. II fell uncomfortable like
liz 4tJ.tL
He tepb5 mrvpi hia .saFt 4sa4eh an
( az %htth uer N uuas ID szbdlel
me closing WORDS
Useless less
His face now expressed the unseen agony
!Ur which there there was no word, aud his
cherished pride Of strength pushed death
away that mareiiuly drew pear again and
again, but ever was repslled by the flushing
rose and pulse Of life Til the llue enunte-
nance Of the actor and athlete seemed
battle-ground of woun6a and spaRms, grow
ing hGilower with each contention, and
ready at the cock Is crow, like the wandering
ghost to FL ls into the morn.
A Gardiner had killed him In the barn ;
nni long aflHrward, WAS found In the ashes
thAro the toldglass delivered to him at
Surratt's-its leather case found unipjured
IN distant farm house.
The cocks began to crow. The morn
awakod with sullen eye. A doctor had
come, bur 1t was too late.
Ihe asaasstn's body was putintc negroes
cart and hauled to the Potomac, and ON the
way the e pinrs read TO the thrilled Begro's
ears, from BOOTHS diary, such words as
| the=e
"llnnted like u dog through swRmps and
woods wet, cold and starving, with every
nuns hand against me-behold the cold
hand they extend to ne--GHd can not par
don mo If | have done wrong serving a
Degenerate p5Ople--so ends all-that makes
life sweet and bojv- misery upon my family
no pardon In tie heaven for me, sincc
man condemns mo So bless my mother
the curse OF Cain upon mepf
------$ S-S----